Nest guard



R. W. MILES Dec. 16, 1952 NEST GUARD Filed Nov. 28 1947 INVENToR. /fusseZZ lf/kies BY @7M Lig/5.

Patented Dec. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NES'I GUARD Russell `W. Miles, Waverly, Iowa `Application November 28, 1947,'Serial No. '788,489

(Cl. 11S-'45) 3 Claims. l

This invention -relates to guards -f or hensne'sts.

Previously, hens nests were subject to the'objection vthat -eggs were Ymany times cracked or broken 4in the use of the nests. Hens nestsgare Yusually provided -with-a solid bottom in which is placed `a quantity of bedding or matting, which is usually straw. A hen on entering vthe Ynest would usually scratch inthe straw until most of it `was dislodged froml the'nest and the hard bottom was'exposed. When 'eggs are laid, they vdrop von the hard bottomand -many times become cracked or broken. This'r-esultslin obviously inferior eggs. Often times eggs which were not cracked or broken became soiled from those that were broken.

.Anobjectfofthe present invention is the'provision of a hen nest and guard-*which is--eective for preventing ythe, hen from dislodging the straw or matting yfrom the nest. Y

Another object of the `invention is the .provision of a guard for a hens nest which prevents the-,eggs `from becoming cracked or broken.

VAjfurther object vof the invention isthe .provisionof ajguard for a hens nest which is adapted to rest on the straw or matting in the .nest and which is lsufciently flexible'th'atit does not4 detract yfrom the soft matting Yeffect of the straw which Vis placed in the nest.

A more specific object `of the invention is the provision of a guard :formed of screen material Y whichfrests on the straw ormatting in the nest andprevents the hen from dislodging the. straw.

`A .still further object is ther provision of alguard as described above which, because it prevents the hen from dislodging the matting in the nest, enables a disinfectant or delousing material to be retained in the nest.

With these and other objects in View, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a nest in which the guard of the present invention is to be employed, the guard being omitted;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 and illustrating the guard in place;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2, showing a modified form of nest and guard; and

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on line-V-B of Figure 5.

Referring now in :detail to the drawinga nest is indicated at l2. The nest l2 may be inthe form of an-ordinary box and the nests are 4usually arranged in a group and may also be supported by any convenient supporting structurein elevated position above the oor or ground. The nest i2 has an open-top and includes side walls I4 and a bottom l5. Although the nest l2 is'illu'strated as having an `open top, it isobviousthat an opening lmay be provided at any other ldesired position, for example, onjthejside inspacedjposition .from the bottomof the, nest.

In-employing the guard of the present vinvention, a-quantity of bedding or matting material 'I 8 is placed in the bottom of thenest. This 'bedding is usually straw and that quantity is used which willll the bottom of the nest to 'a convenient depth of, for example, Vfour or fv'einches After the straw vI8 is thus placedin position, the guard v20 of the present invention isplaced in the nest. Theguard comprises a wide'm'esh screen material 22 whichis usually in the form of a screen knownas chickenwire. This screen is somewhat-flexible rand is bound by.lStrilJS ,2'4 around its edges. `Figure 4 illustrates in .detail one manner of applying the Strips l24 t'o the marginal edges of the screenmaterialZZ. The detailsv of construction of the strips42r4 are not particularly pertinent. However, 'the 'strips .2,4 may have portions 'onopposite sides ofthe screen Ymaterial and oney portion is turnedjin asindicated at 26 between the screen and a turned 'over `portion 28 of the latter. The sides of the strip 24 are then clinched together. The strips 24 may be of metal and are relatively rigid to retain the body of the screen material 22 in stretched sheetlike form. t

As illustrated in Figure 3, the guard 20 is of such a size to substantially cover all of the horizontal cross-sectional area of the nest and, a1- though there are spaces between the sides of the guard and the nest, the difference in dimensions is not intended to be great but only suicient to provide convenience in inserting the guard in the nest and removing it therefrom.

The guard 20 is, therefore, disposed generally horizontally in the nest and supported by the quantity of matting or straw I8. After the guard is inserted in the nest, another quantity of straw is inserted in the nest as indicated at 30 above the guard 20. The quantity of straw 30 is of a convenient depth similar to the quantity I8, for example, four or five inches.

When a hen enters the nest, she ordinarily and almost always scratches in the straw and pushes it up along the sides f the nest and many times entirely out of the nest. The hard bottom I6 is then exposed and when the eggs are laid they drop onto the hard bottom and often are cracked or broken.

With the use of the nest guard 20 of the present invention, the hen may scratch the straw 30 out of position but after this is done, her claws are retarded by the screen material 22 and the straw I8 is retained in position. The screen material 29 as noted above is flexible and does not detract from the soft matting effect of the straw I8. The rigid strips 24 around the screen material 22 retain the screen in stretched sheet-like form. Since the hen is standing on the screen material 22 with one foot when she scratches with the other, the screen does not move bodily in the nest.

Thus, the quantity of straw I8 under the guard cannot be dislodged by the hen, a soft matting is retained in the nest and the eggs are prevented from becoming cracked or broken.

Another advantage resulting from the nest guard of the present invention is that a disinfectant or delousing material can be more effectively employed. The disinfectant may be applied to the straw I8 and, since this straw cannot be dislodged, the disinfectant remains as applied and effective for the purpose intended.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a modified manner of employing the nest guard 20. In this instance, the guard 29 is provided with hinges 32 which are secured to one of the side walls I6 which is `'clearly illustrated in Figure 5. The point of securement of the hinge 32 to the nest may be any convenient distance from the bottom of the nest, such as the intended spacing of the guard as illustrated in Figure 2. When the guard is thus hingedly secured to the nest, it can be swung upwardly to the dot-dash line position of Figure 5 for placing the straw I8 in the nest and removing it therefrom. The quantity of straw I8 in this instance is such as to support the guard 20 in horizontal position when the latter is swung down into the nest.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims such modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents as may be reasonably included Within their scope.

I claim:

1. A hens nest comprising a box-like container having a bottom and upright sides, a layer of matting 0n the bottom of said container, a guard immediately adjacent to and supported by said matting, said guard being made of a sheet of flexible screen material and having relatively rigid strips secured to marginal edges thereof, and said guard being hinged adjacent one edge thereof to an upright wall of said container.

2. A hens nest comprising a box-like container having a bottom and upright sides, a layer of matting on the bottom of said container, a guard adjacent to and supported by said matting, said guard being made of a sheet of flexible screen material and having relatively rigid strips secured to marginal edges thereof, and said guard being hinged adjacent one edge thereof to an upright wall of said container, the thickness of the layer of matting extending from the bottom of the container to substantially the level of said hinge.

3. A hens nest comprising a box-like container having a bottom and upright sides, a layer of matting on the bottom of said container, a guard adjacent to and supported by said matting, said guard being made of a sheet of flexible screen material and having relatively rigid strips secured to marginal edges thereof, and said guard being hinged adjacent one edge thereof to an upright wall of said container, and an additional layer of matting covering the guard.

RUSSELL W. MILES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 492,046 McKnight Feb. 2l, 1898 1,123,300 Irwin Jan. 5, 1915 1,216,766 Andrews Feb. 20, 1917 1,288,325 Weldon Dec. 17, 1918 1,329,024 Scott Jan. 27, 1920 1,329,963 Faust Feb. 3, 1920 1,692,957 Skinner Nov. 27, 1928 1,728,700 Purdy Sept. 17, 1929 1,740,323 Waller Dec. 17, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 725,937 France May 19, 1932 63,135 Denmark Jan. 15, 1945 

